When the facility she was working at announced
it would cease operations after serving as a home to many for decades, she
witnessed little by little the facility being stripped of its assets and the
direct impact imminent closure had on the residents, their families and staff. Ms.
Straub knew she wanted to help in any way possible, to make sure health care worked
for all parties.
Ms. Straub then volunteered to become an
ombudsman in Wisconsin, assigned to a skilled nursing facility as an advocate
to ensure a safe standard of living and to aid in resolving any issues between
the facility and residents. There, she learned the art of active listening and presenting
practicable solutions to issues affecting quality of care.
Prior to earning her J.D. at DePaul University
College of Law in 2011, she completed her undergraduate education at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Political Science and
International Studies. During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Straub deepened
her experiences in law as an intern for a Wisconsin state senator, working with
a lobbyist group in Wisconsin and even spending a summer as an assistant to a
State Supreme Court Justice candidate, touring the state and experiencing the day-to-day
happenings of a political campaign. Ms. Straub later interned for her county's
corporation counsel office, dealing with mental commitments, involuntary termination
of parental rights, and child support enforcement actions.
Ms. Straub chose to attend law school at DePaul because
of its Health Law program. “The reputation of DePaul in the community, its
Health Law Program, and the University’s focus on public service made my
decision to go to law school there easy.” There she was active in bar association
activities, Lawyers in the Classroom, the Health Law Institute and Phi Alpha
Delta. Her work for the Special Education Advocacy Clinic helped to ensure
students in Chicago Public Schools received proper care and education.
During law school, Ms. Straub was excited to
experience hands-on legal work with the Medical and Health-Related Prosecutions
Units at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR). Utilizing her Supreme Court Rule 711 license, and under the
supervision of a licensed attorney, she represented the agency in proceedings
to enforce licensing statutes and regulations governing health care
professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, and nurses. From there, she moved
into a clerk position for the Chief Administrative Law Judge at the same agency,
drafting the Judge’s rulings and recommendations.
Outside of health-related issues, Ms. Straub
enjoyed participating in the DePaul Pro Bono Donate-A-Days because it was a way
to think outside the box and explore different areas of law whilst serving the
community. While at DePaul, Ms. Straub also went on study abroad trips to focus
on Financial Law in Grand Cayman and European Comparative Law in Prague, Czech
Republic. “Seeing how legal systems in other countries operate has given me
perspective in ways I never thought it could.”
After being sworn in, Ms. Straub worked as Assistant
General Counsel for the IDFPR, where she provided legal counsel to professional
boards and agency staff, analyzed proposed legislation affecting the
professions IDFPR regulates, and assisted in drafting agency rules guiding
Illinois’ newly passed medical cannabis policy.
Today, she continues her work to ensure a high
standard of care as a Prosecutor for the IDFPR in health related cases involving
substandard care, fraudulent billing, drug diversion, and patient abandonment. “By
contributing to the quality of the health care system I am doing what I’ve
always wanted; enforcing the law to ensure the safety of others.”
Ms. Straub enjoys mentoring law students through
her guest lectures at DePaul and as law clerk coordinator at the IDFPR. She also
volunteers through the Chicago Bar Association with the Wills for Heroes
program, drafting wills and advanced directives for Chicago-area first
responders.
Ms. Straub encourages law students to push
themselves outside their comfort zone and try new things. “You will pick up new
tools in your legal tool belt this way.” She also encourages students to
network, volunteer and not be afraid to ask attorneys about their experiences.
“If you do not receive a response right away, don’t be afraid to follow up.”
Ms. Straub suggests keeping a digital portfolio
of projects ready so law students can send a resume or writing sample at any
time, if an opportunity arises. “You prepare for your finals, so make sure you
are also preparing for any opportunity that may come along. Keeping a portfolio
is just one more step in being prepared,” Ms. Straub advises. “Preparation is
key in law.”
Ms. Straub advises law students to choose a
field that they have a real passion for, and then surround themselves with
people they admire and respect. She states, “As a new attorney, you will no
doubt have many questions. Law school will give you the tools you need to research
and analyze problems. Internships will give you the experience you need to
solve them correctly. Colleagues you respect, however, will inspire you to work
hard toward achieving the goals you set for yourself. Law is a collaborative
field, and you will pick up good habits from others.”
Kate
Reynolds is currently a 2L at DePaul University College of Law. Ms. Reynolds
completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Ms. Reynolds wishes to pursue a career in Health Law after graduating in May of
2017.